University of Memphis student Matthew Barczak (middle) slides in a mud puddles, as heavy rains pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)Buy Photo

11:51 p.m. The conditions were awful and the play was uneven as a result, but Memphis got past Louisiana-Monroe, 37-29, at the Liberty Bowl Thursday night to open its highly anticipated regular season.

With rain and wind from the remnants of Harvey hovering over the city, the Tigers turned to their run game for just enough big plays to to fend off a pesky Warhawks team.

Sophomore Darrell Henderson led the charge with 169 rushing yards and two long touchdown runs. Backfield mate Patrick Taylor, Jr. added 131 rushing yards as Memphis picked up 326 of its 423 total yards on the ground.

Two concerns going forward: The Memphis defense struggled as the evening wore on and the team has some injury issues coming out of this one. Make sure you check out Tom Schad’s five things to know for updates.

University of Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson miss handles a pass during warmup before taking the field against the University of Louisiana-Monroe at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis teammates Tony Pollard (left) and Nehemiah Augustus, 16, grab a fumbled ball during a University of Louisiana-Monroe kickoff return during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis receiver Phil Mayhue (left) can not haul in a pass while defended by University of Louisiana-Monroe cornerback JJ Dallas (right) during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis running back Patrick Taylor, Jr. (middle) scrambles past the University of Louisiana-Monroe defense for a touchdown run during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis linebacker Darian Porter, 29, is helped off the field after substring a leg injury against University of Louisiana-Monroe during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis tight end Joey Magnifico (left) fights his way to the one-yard line while dragging University of Louisiana-Monroe defenders Wesley Thompson (middle) and Chase Day (right) during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis student Matthew Barczak (middle) parties with his fraternity brothers, as heavy rains pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis fans load up their tailgate area as heavy rains and winds pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis fans celebrate as heavy rains and winds pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis fans Deborah Rooks (right) along with daughter Alexis Rooks (left) battle the heavy rains and winds outside Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis student Matthew Barczak (middle) celebrates sliding in a mud puddles, as heavy rains pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis student Matthew Barczak (middle) slides in a mud puddles, as heavy rains pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis fan brave the heavy rains and winds that pour down inside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis fans brave the heavy rains and winds that pour down inside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis fan brave the heavy rains and winds that pour down inside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis takes the field for warmups as heavy rains and winds that pour down inside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis defender Tito Windham (right) can not stop a reception by University of Louisiana-Monroe receiver Xavier Brown (left) during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis receiver Anthony Miller (left) can not haul in a touchdown catch against University of Louisiana-Monroe defender Juwan Offray (right) during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis defender Austin Hall (right) brings down University of Louisiana-Monroe running back Derrick Gore (right) during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis defender Austin Hall (right) brings down University of Louisiana-Monroe running back Derrick Gore (left) during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Louisiana-Monroe running back Kayin White (middle) is tackled by the University of Memphis defense during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Louisiana-Monroe running back Kayin White (middle) is tackled by the University of Memphis defenders Shaun Rupert (left) and Terrell "TJ" Carter (right) during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis receiver Anthony Miller (right) can not hang onto a pass while being hit by University of Louisiana-Monroe Rhoy Williams (left) during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis running back Darrell Henderson (front) scrambles past the University of Louisiana-Monroe defense for a touchdown during third quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis running back Darrell Henderson (left) celebrates a touchdown run with teammate Sean Dykes (right) during third quarter action against the University of Louisiana-Monroe at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

University of Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson (top) makes a pass against the University of Louisiana-Monroe defense during second quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

11:45 p.m. ULM just scored again and got a two-point conversion to cut the Memphis lead to 37-29 with 40 seconds to go. The Tigers' defense has really withered late and ULM is actually out-gaining Memphis, 425-423, for the game at the moment.

11:42 p.m. Uh oh.

#Tigers LB Jackson Dillon is wearing a sling on his right arm right now. Left the game in the first half. Missed most of the season in '16.

Remember: Defensive lineman Jared Gentry was also carted off the field with an injury earlier in the game.

11:34 p.m. ULM makes it a two-score game with 5:21 to go in the fourth quarter. Memphis is nursing a 37-21 lead after its defense allowed another long touchdown drive. The Tigers will need a couple more first downs to ice this one away.

11:28 p.m. Tonight's official attendance: 10,263. They were braver souls than me.

11:15 p.m. Here's video of Tony Pollard's kickoff return and Darrell Henderson's second long touchdown of the night, which highlighted the Tigers' 17-point third quarter.

11:08 p.m. Jewelry update: Tony Pollard did indeed win a whole bunch of folks free jewelry. We tracked down the owner of Robert Irwin Jeweler, who confirmed his store would deliver on its promise to give refunds to customers that made purchases between a certain time frame if Memphis took back its opening kickoff of a half for a touchdown.

11:04 p.m. Memphis leads ULM, 37-14, as we head to the fourth quarter at the Liberty Bowl. Following Pollard's kick return touchdown, the Tigers got on the board again courtesy of a 20-yard field goal from Spencer Smith after a 71-yard drive.

ULM answered with a 16-play, 68-yard touchdown drive. But Memphis answered right back when tailback Darrell Henderson scampered 63 yards to the end zone. Henderson is now up to 169 yards for the game and he's averaging more than 14 yards per carry.

10:25 p.m. People might be getting free jewelry because of Tony Pollard.

10:22 p.m. Tony Pollard is fast. So fast that he just took the opening kickoff of the second half 99 yards for a touchdown in 13 seconds. Memphis leads ULM, 27-7, to start the third quarter. That's the third career kickoff return for a touchdown for Pollard.

10:07 p.m. Here's beat writer Tom Schad's take on the first half:

Perhaps the biggest surprise from the first half: Riley Ferguson's struggles. The wet, windy conditions obviously aren't ideal for a quarterback, but Ferguson made plenty of mistakes on his own in the first 30 minutes. He threw into tight coverage multiple times, including one interception and several passes that very well could've been picked off. Rain or not, a 5-for-14 performance in the first half (for 34 yards) is not exactly what the Tigers were hoping to see from their NFL hopeful quarterback.

Memphis has struggled with penalties in each of the past two seasons, and that trend continued in the first half. The Tigers have six penalties for 51 yards so far tonight, including a personal foul penalty on Genard Avery that set up Louisiana-Monroe's first and only score of the half.

9:54 p.m. A football version of hot potato has broken out to close the second quarter

Following ULM's fumble, Memphis gives the ball right back when quarterback Riley Ferguson tosses his first interception of the year directly into the hands of ULM safety Colin Turner. But two plays later, ULM quarterback Garrett Smith fumbled again and Memphis recovered.

If you're keeping score at home, that's three turnovers in less than three minutes of game action.

After a 46-yard completion set up ULM inside the Tigers' five-yard line, linebacker Curtis Akins forces a fumble by ULM RB Derrick Gore and sophomore DL Jonathan Wilson recovers to preserve Memphis' 20-7 lead late in the second quarter.

9:40 p.m. #Analysis

The Tigers averaged 159 rushing yards per game last season. They have 193 rushing yards so far tonight. ULM run defense is... not great.

9:36 p.m. Another monster truck-sized hole created by the Memphis offensive line and another long touchdown run.

Sophomore Darrell Henderson races untouched for 55 yards and gives Memphis a 20-7 lead with 9:11 to go in the second quarter.

9:32 p.m. Noble gesture from the Memphis football team as it took the field tonight in light of Hurricane Harvey. The Tigers ran into the Liberty Bowl with a Texas state flag and a University of Houston flag. There was also a "P6" flag in reference to the American Athletic Conference's efforts to be mentioned alongside college football's other power conferences.

9:26 p.m. Senior Doroland Dorceus just received his first carry of the game with less than 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter. We'll make sure to ask coach Mike Norvell what the deal was there when this game ends.

9:24 p.m. In case you missed it (like I did), ULM has already gone to a different quarterback tonight.

From Tom Schad: Louisiana-Monroe had only recently named sophomore Caleb Evans its starting quarterback. And it didn't take long for them to switch back to junior Garrett Smith on Thursday night. The Warhawks put the more mobile Smith in midway through the first quarter and started to call more designed quarterback runs and options, with marginal success.

9:14 p.m. After two runs are stuffed near the goal line, Riley Ferguson keeps it himself and leaps into the end zone for a touchdown and Memphis takes a 13-7 lead over ULM early in the second quarter.

The Tigers tried to get tricky when back-up quarterback David Moore attempted to sneak in a two-point conversion from an extra point formation. But he fumbled at the one-yard-line.

9:10 p.m. Here's a developing story from the first quarter, via Tom Schad: As the final seconds of the first quarter ticked away, Doroland Dorceus stood in a crowd of offensive players on the sidelines with his arms crossed. Dorceus, the team's leading returning rusher, did not receive a carry in the first quarter.

9:09 p.m. Memphis answers right back nearly regained the lead over ULM late in the first quarter.

After a long kick return by Tony Pollard, the Tigers drove 55 yards in nine plays and appeared to score a touchdown on a catch-and-run from Riley Ferguson to tight end Joey Magnifico. But after an official review, Magnifico was ruled to have been down at the one-yard-line.

That's where the Tigers will have the ball to start the second quarter.

8:59 p.m. After a fast start, the Memphis defense just got gashed by ULM. The Warhawks just capped off a nine-play, 97-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run by running back Derrick Gore. Memphis and ULM are now tied at 7 with 3:17 to go in the first quarter.

8:56 p.m. The Memphis defense looked to be on the verge of forcing another ULM punt, but ULM's R.J. Turner took a wide receiver screen 43 yards on a third down conversion. Tigers linebacker Darian Porter had to be helped off the field due to injury after the play.

Here's another note from Tom Schad: Tim Hart started the Tigers' third defensive drive at inside linebacker, playing alongside Darian Porter, Genard Avery and Jackson Dillon. Hart, the MUS product, redshirted last year and has been really impressive in fall camp.

8:39 p.m. From Tom Schad: Memphis has been rotating multiple players at tackle throughout fall camp, and that continued in the first two series Thursday night. Harneet Gill, a junior-college transfer who redshirted last season, started the game at right tackle and handled the first series. Roger Joseph, another JUCO transfer who joined the team this summer, was at right tackle for the second drive.

Keep in mind, Taylor's big touchdown run came through the right side of the line.

8:37 p.m. Schad approves ...

Given the conditions here, I'd give the ball to Patrick Taylor Jr. all night. Bigger, bruising back. Just let him make one cut and go.

8:35 p.m. Patrick Taylor to the house. The sophomore running back just broke through the right side of the offensive line and scored a 66-yard touchdown. Memphis takes a 7-0 lead on an extra point from freshman Riley Patterson. That's a new career-long run for Taylor, by the way.

8:30 p.m. From beat writer Tom Schad: John "Pop" Williams returned the first punt of the 2017 season for Memphis, rather than 2016 returner Anthony Miller. Coach Mike Norvell said last season that he viewed punt return as another avenue to get Miller the ball, but the staff likely decided that the risks of that role outweighed the potential rewards with regards to the team's star wide receiver.

Memphis ultimately forced a three-and-out by ULM and gets the ball back at midfield after a punt.

8:21 p.m. Louisiana-Monroe just fumbled the opening kickoff and Memphis recovers. The Tigers will get the first offensive play of the game after all.

8:20 p.m. And we're off. Memphis won the toss and defers to the second half. The Tigers will kick off and be on defense to start the 2017 season. With the UCF-FIU game still in the fourth quarter, TV coverage of Memphis-ULM won't start until that game is over.

For the record, it's 66 degree with winds to the northeast at 14 mph to begin the game. "And it's raining," according to the press box announcer.

8:05 p.m. The marching band is here and they sound good.

There might be more band members than fans at the Liberty Bowl tonight. The Mighty Sound of the South is tough as nails. pic.twitter.com/KzNkYx4gTd

7:25 p.m. They just announced here in the press box that tonight's kickoff has been pushed back to 8:20 p.m. for TV purposes.

The Tigers and Louisiana-Monroe have taken the field for pregame warm-ups. The wind is still going nuts and the rain is still coming in sideways. This will probably unlike any football game these players have been a part of before.

7:15 p.m. Those that are braving the elements tonight are making the best of it. Check out some of these amazing photos from The Commercial Appeal's Mark Weber

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University of Memphis fans Deborah Rooks (right) along with daughter Alexis Rooks (left) battle the heavy rains and winds outside Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Buy Photo

University of Memphis student Matthew Barczak (middle) celebrates sliding in a mud puddles, as heavy rains pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Buy Photo

University of Memphis fans celebrate as heavy rains and winds pour down outside the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium before the Tigers first football game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday evening.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

6:35 p.m. It's raining cats and dogs and Tigers and Warhawks (that's Louisiana-Monroe's mascot) here in Memphis as we get set for pregame warm-ups. The Memphis bench is more like a pond at the moment and the wind is whipping in a different direction seemingly every minute.